Ampersand Limited Launches a Global Company to Provide Intelligent Retail Solutions

Ampersand Solutions will provide an intelligent framework for retailers that will empower them to deliver the right promotions across multiple channels and markets at the right price for maximum profit. Nick Barber intends to have a working demonstration available in early April and is seeking retailers who would be willing to help validate the product. An offer for early adopters/product validators is planned and has been posted on the web site (www.ampersanduk.com).

Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK May 3, 2004 -- Nick Barber, founder member of workflow management company Engage (formerly Cascade Systems), has joined forces with Chris Hodges founder of workflow management company Midsystem Technology, and with Carlton Harris and Kevin Cregan, founder members of EnspireIT, a specialist development company to create the next generation of solutions for retailers wanting to maximize gross margins through intelligent marketing.

The new company, Ampersand Solutions Limited, is based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. The company has developed a next generation advertising, marketing and promotion control solution for retail organisations. Nick Barber is heading up the direction of the company defining the positioning of the new products being built. The product will be built around a portal allowing different parts of a retail organization to work collaboratively together to drive the promotion of the right products at the right time through the best means at the optimum price. Retailers often dont have the depth of resource to give enough strategic attention to every aspect of a products lifecycle. When you add to that the increasing diversity of customer demographics/geographies, cultural groups, shortening product lifecycles, fierce competition and the huge proliferation of stores, you really need to add a little analytical and scientific help to the art of merchandising.

Ampersand aims to provide insight to manufacturers, merchandisers, marketers, advertising and stores enabling a suggestive, collaborative and controlled approach to help define when products should be advertised, where, at what price and through which mediums. Our aim is to do this with one goal in mind to increase gross margins, explains Nick.

Similar solutions are available but usually concentrate either in the Advertising, Marketing and Promotions (AMP) environment or the Retail Revenue Management (RRM) environment. Our unique view is that the two need to be combined to get maximum return.

Background:
Nick Barber and Chris Hodges have both been involved with advanced content delivery and workflow solutions since the mid eighties, Chris having successfully created and delivered the worlds first advanced content workflow product in 1992. Both Nick and Chris held senior positions at Engage, delivering solutions to major retail and media organisations such as Associated Newspapers, Littlewoods and Mytravel before Engage was purchased by JDA.

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